In Brief

7 consecutive heavy frosts (temperature below −2°C
from 12th to 18th) - longest such spell in June since 1984.

On
15th, maximum temperature (5.9°C) lowest for June since 1983.

Wettest
June since 1998, total of 74.0 mm.

Details

Temperatures:

In a marked change from recent months, Canberra has
experienced significantly below average temperatures. The
average monthly mean temperature (the average of daytime and night-time
temperatures) of 5.9°C was 0.5°C below the historic average1 of
6.4°C, ending the run of 5
consecutive Junes with above average temperatures. Days were cool to
cold with the average maximum day-time temperature of 11.9°C being below
the historic average of 12.2°C and the lowest since 1993 (when 11.7°C). A
notable cold day was 15th June, a day of fog and low cloud, when the
mercury struggled to a maximum temperature of only 5.9°C, the coldest June
maximum since 1983 and the coldest 15th June maximum since 1958 (when
7.7°C).

Nights were also cold with an average minimum temperature at
Canberra Airport of−0.2°C,
about one degree below the historic average (of 0.7°C) and the lowest for
6 years. Frosts (minimum temperature 2°C or less) were common,
Canberra Airport recording 21 frosts, three more than the historic
average. A particularly heavy frost spell occurred from 12th to 18th
when minimum temperatures were less than −2.0°C on 7 consecutive nights.
This is the longest such spell in June since a similar spell in
1984. On the 28th the minimum temperature of −5.3°C was the
lowest temperature at Canberra Airport since 21st July 2004 when it fell
to −7.3°C. The lowest temperature recorded at Tuggeranong was −6.3°C
on the 14th.

Rainfall:

Canberra Airport's total June
rainfall of 74.0 mm was well above the historic average of 39.7 mm and the
wettest June since 1998 (when 117.4 mm was recorded). The majority of the
rainfall fell on 2 days (the 2nd with 24.0 mm and the 11th with 30.6 mm).
There were 10 rain days during the month (historic average 9 days).
Rainfall across the ACT varied only slightly and ranged from 83 mm at
Gungahlin to 61 mm at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Other phenomena:

There were 8 fog days
compared to an historic average of 7 days. The fog on the 15th persisted
until after midday resulting in the coldest maximum temperature for June
2006 of 5.9°C and delaying air traffic at Canberra Airport. It was less
windy than usual during June with a wind run of 99km/day (historic average
171km/day) with 1 strong wind day (historic average 2 days).

Climate summary for Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport
(Elev 578 m)

June 2006

Historic average

June 2005

Average maximumtemperature (°C)

11.9

12.2

14.1

Average minimumtemperature (°C)

–0.2

0.7

2.3

Mean temperature (°C)

5.9

6.4

8.2

Monthly rainfall (mm)

74.0

39.8#

73.0

Number of rain days

10

9

13

Average dailysunshine (hours)

5.6

5.2

4.6

Average relative humidity at 3pm (%)

59

60

60

Number of thunserstorms

0

0

0

Number of windy days*

1

2

0

# median June rainfall
is 31 mm*windy day defined as average wind speed of 40km/h or
greater at synoptic times.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at noon
on 04/07/06. Although every effort has been made to check them, it is
possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

A note about deciles: Deciles are used to give an
element (in this case rainfall or temperature) a ranking. Deciles are
calculated by arranging the totals in ascending order (from lowest to
highest) then splitting them into 10 equal groups (thus the groups are
called deciles). The first group would be in decile range one, the second
group in decile range two, etc up to the highest annual totals (highest 10
per cent) being in decile range 10.

1Averages: Historic average
temperatures for Canberra Airport are based on the period 1961 to 1990
which is a convention of the World Meteorological Organisation.

The latest rainfall and temperature maps are available hereClimate
averages for New South Wales localities are available hereDaily
Weather Observations for selected New South Wales localities are available
here